The most commonly abused prescription drugs are:
* opioid painkillers like Vicodin and codeine
* depressants, or medicines to treat anxiety and aid sleep, such as Valiumand Xanax
* stimulants used to treat ADHD, such as Adderall and Ritalin

The first indication you should consider is whether or not your child has recently suffered an injury, had surgery, or treated a chronic condition using a prescription opioid. Often, a problem starts with a completely valid prescription and escalates into addiction. Examples of prescription opioids include morphine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. They may make mention of a strong painkiller but not specify a name, so think back to whether or not they sounded particularly euphoric while using it. Again, this won’t be an exact indication of abuse, but it’s a good place to start.